Second Night
I finally arrived at their camp a hidden place on the edge of the swamp. The air here was damp, filled with the scent of wet earth and decaying leaves.
I had already treated my wounds with makeshift bandages, and now I was eating the food they provided. Though it was bland, at least it filled my stomach. After finishing my meal, we began exchanging information.
Surprisingly, Noel's group didn't know much about what was happening outside. They had been focusing on survival and avoiding conflict with other groups. It was a smart decision, but it also meant they were unaware of the real threats out there.
The fact that this camp had remained hidden for two whole days was sheer luck. Even though this swamp was disgusting and rarely visited, it still felt impossible that no other group had found it.
When it was time to rest, they started assigning patrol shifts. Abel and I weren't allowed to join.
'They don't fully trust us yet. Well… what can I do?' I thought, resigned.
The Next Day
The sun was already high when I woke up. The light filtering through the gaps in the leaves felt suffocating due to the swamp's humidity.
At the moment, Noel's group was preparing to hunt. I observed how they worked organized, efficient, and tactical. Noel gave instructions, and the hunters moved seamlessly. They even used scouts to ensure no other groups were nearby.
"Noel is really reliable, huh," Abel said, standing beside me.
I glanced at him and smirked. "Yeah. But you seem to be getting close to them too. I thought you were afraid of talking to others."
Abel quickly looked away, clearly embarrassed. "I'm not afraid to talk to others…" he muttered.
"Then what is it?" I asked, trying to hold back my laughter.
"Hey, just tell me," I teased, leaning in closer to see his face.
Abel became even more flustered. "I-It's nothing! Don't look at me like that!"
I chuckled while he kept avoiding my gaze.
Nightfall
We planned to survive the night as usual—staying alert, maintaining the traps around us, and relying on patrols to detect any intruders.
But suddenly
"Bruakh!"
The sound of something falling jolted me awake. I immediately got up and looked outside.
"Noel! Is there an intruder?" I asked quickly.
Noel, already armed, glanced at me. "You're a heavy sleeper. Grab your weapon, now! Stay sharp—something triggered our trap!"
I grabbed my wooden spear, but before I could fully prepare
Srak!
A boy jumped out from the bushes and attacked me with his wooden spear!
I instinctively stepped aside, letting the spearhead narrowly miss my body. Then, I quickly stomped on the spear's tip, pinning it to the ground for a moment. My opponent was caught off guard—this was my chance.
Duk!
I kicked his knee from the side. He dropped to one knee, and I immediately grabbed a thick branch nearby. Without hesitation, I swung it hard against his body, knocking him down completely.
However, before I could finish him—
Srak!
I heard fast footsteps behind me.
On reflex, I dropped to the ground. Something swooshed past my head—a strike that nearly hit the back of my neck.
I rolled to the side and grabbed a handful of dirt, throwing it straight into my opponent's eyes. He instinctively shut them, and I seized the opportunity delivering a powerful kick to his stomach!
Duk!
He staggered backward. Before he could recover, someone from Noel's group rushed in and struck him with a wooden hammer. The boy collapsed, unconscious.
But the fight wasn't over.
As I got back on my feet, I realized something
We were surrounded.
More children emerged from the trees and bushes, closing in on us. Their numbers were far greater than ours.
I swallowed hard. There were only eleven of us, while they… I wasn't sure of the exact count, but it was definitely over twenty. And what was even stranger—
They had no leader.
'So they're just moving on instinct? No one is giving them orders?'
This was bad. We were outnumbered, and fighting in the middle of a swamp wasn't ideal.
"Noel," I whispered. "We need to run."
Noel nodded, then turned to the others. "Use the backup plan."
Within seconds, we scattered in different directions. Some of us launched quick attacks to distract the enemy, while others slipped into the swamp's darkness.
I gritted my teeth and took a deep breath before making my move.
That night, we didn't win. But we managed to escape.
Day Four
We survived the third day, though not in the best condition. Tension still lingered among us, but at least we were alive.
As the sun rose over the horizon, I let out a sigh of relief.
Today, we would return to the central camp.